MolMed presents new data for its cell based therapy TK at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH)

New data reveal the role of Interleukin-7 in the mechanism of
action of TK cells

The finding provides rationale to widen the use of the TK
therapy

Milan (Italy), 7 December 2010 – MolMed S.p.A. (Milan:MLM)
presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Hematology (ASH) in Orlando, FL an update on long-term follow up
data of a completed Phase II trial (TK007) of its cell-based
therapy TK for high-risk leukaemia. New data presented allow to
further clarify the mechanism of action by which TK cells promote
the immune-reconstitution of treated adult leukaemia patients,
showing that the recovery of the patients’ immune system is
mediated by Interleukin-7, a signalling molecule that plays a key
role in several steps of the immune response.

Data from the Phase II trial of TK have previously shown
(Ciceri, Bonini et al., JCO 2009; and ASCO 2010, abstract 6534)
that TK cells exert a direct role in restoring a fully functional
immune system and in fighting disease relapse, and thus are
directly responsible for increased survival and reduced
transplant-related mortality in adult patients affected by
high-risk leukaemia.

Claudio Bordignon, MolMed’s chairman and CEO, comments:
“These data offer an insight on how TK cells promote, through
the induction of Interleukin-7 production, the recovery of a fully
functional immune system that effectively protects patients both
from infections and from disease relapse. This new finding not only
elucidates how TK cells work, but it also provides the rationale to
widen the use of TK cells to all haematopoietic stem cell
transplants in which provision of an effective immune protection
represents a critical therapeutic factor, as well as to adoptive
immunotherapy approaches involving gene transfer
procedures.”

TK therapy is currently investigated in a randomised Phase III
trial (TK008) for high-risk leukaemia, addressing the issue of
enabling safe and effective bone marrow transplants from partially
compatible donors in adult recipients, without post-transplant
immune-suppression or depletion of alloreactive cells, thereby
opening the door of bone marrow transplant to all patients lacking
a fully compatible donor. The main endpoints of the trial are
overall survival and reduction of transplant-related mortality;
secondary endpoints include disease-free survival, safety and
patient quality of life.

MolMed will further pursue in 2011 the international expansion
of its Phase III trial (TK008), including in the United States
where the company filed earlier this year an IND (Investigational
New Drug) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Currently, the Phase III trial of TK, whose initial data
confirm the safety of the investigational therapy, is actively
recruiting patients in Italy. At the ASH annual meeting, MolMed
indicated that the clinical trial will be pursued also in clinical
centres in France, Germany, Greece, Israel, and the United States.
(Clinicaltrials.gov trial identifier: NCT00914628).

This press release is written in compliance with public
disclosure obligations established by CONSOB (Italian securities
& exchange commission) resolution no. 11971 of 14.5.1999 as
subsequently amended.

About TK

TK is a cell therapy product, based on the use of genetically
engineered donor T cells in association with bone marrow
transplants from healthy donors, and particularly from partially
compatible family donors (haplo-transplants). Add-backs of TK allow
to keep the immune-protection and anti-leukaemia effects of donor T
cells, while promptly controlling and abrogating the possible onset
of GvHD. TK has been granted Orphan Drug designation in both the EU
and the US.

About MolMed

MolMed S.p.A is a biotechnology company focused on research,
development and clinical validation of novel antitumour therapies.
MolMed’s pipeline includes two investigational anticancer
products: TK, in Phase III for high-risk leukaemia, and NGR-hTNF, a
selective vascular targeting agent for the treatment of solid
tumours, in Phase III for malignant pleural mesothelioma and in
Phase II in colorectal, liver, small-cell lung, non-small-cell lung
and ovarian cancer, and in soft tissue sarcomas. MolMed is
headquartered at the San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park in Milan,
Italy.

For further information, please contact:

Holger Neecke

Director Business Development, Investor Relations

MolMed S.p.A.

phone: +39 02 21277.205

fax: +39 02 21277.325

e-mail: investor.relations@molmed.com

Elena Lungagnani

Communication Manager

MolMed S.p.A.

phone: +39 02 21277.207

fax: +39 02 21277.325

e-mail: media.relations@molmed.com

DISCLAIMER

This press release may contain certain forward-looking
statements. Although the company believes its expectations are
based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements
are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including
scientific, business, economic and financial factors, which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in
the forward-looking statements. The company assumes no
responsibility to update forward-looking statements or adapt them
to future events or developments. This document does not constitute
an offer or invitation to subscribe or purchase any securities of
MolMed S.p.A.

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